This was taken using an APM 152/1200 with a Baader FFC Barlow at 3X for 3600mm FL. A Pierro Astro Atmospheric Dispersion Corrector was used to clear up the very visible dispersion given Venus is so bright. I used a Point Grey Blackfly (ICX692 sensor) and used an Astronomik IR642 filter for the Red channel and a Wratten 47 (deep violet) for the Blue, then produced a synthetic Green channel from these in PS for a full colour image. I captured data for 2 minutes with each filter.

The video was processed in PIPP then stacked is AS2 with 1.5x Drizzle, slightly sharpened in Regstax 6 then combined in PS.

I’m quite pleased with this initial image as cloud detail is just visible. I think experimenting a bit more at the UV end will tease out a few more clouds and maybe increasing magnification to 4X.

Andy, slow down! This is the first shot of Venus managed, I have others to process and more is becoming visible each day so I am sure we can do better than this.

I also imaged Saturn for the first time this year last night and there is a bit more to come from Jupiter yet. Not to mention full disc Cak and Ha images. You will have plenty for next months video wall, don’t worry!